Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system user interface having adjustable fonts and method of operation thereof

ABSTRACT

A user interface for use with an HVAC system, a method of providing service reminders on a single screen of a user interface of an HVAC system and an HVAC system incorporating the user interface or the method. In one embodiment, the user interface includes: (1) a display configured to provide information to a user, (2) a touchpad configured to accept input from the user and (3) a processor and memory coupled to the display and the touchpad and configured to drive the display, the display further configured to provide a button that allows a user to adjust an attribute of text displayed on the display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/569,859, filed by Bias, et al., on Dec. 13, 2011, entitled“Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System User Interface HavingOne or More of One-Touch Away Feature, Adjustable Fonts, ProportionalAnimation Graphics, Service Reminders on a Single Screen, SeparateProgramming and Manual Mode Screens, Integrated Screen/Housing Skin,Low-Profile Housing, Secure Functional Upgrade Feature and RemotePlatform Access Application Associated Therewith,” commonly assignedwith this application and incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is directed, in general, to a heating, ventilation andair conditioning (HVAC) systems and, more specifically, to an HVACsystem having a user interface, such as a thermostat.

BACKGROUND

Users interact with HVAC systems through user interfaces. The mostcommon user interface employed today is the thermostat. The most basicthermostats feature one or more dials, switches or levers and allowusers to set temperatures. More elaborate thermostats feature a liquidcrystal display (LCD) screen, perhaps even of the touchscreen variety,and allow users to program their HVAC systems for automatic temperaturesettings, configure and maintain their HVAC systems and records ofhistorical operation data, allowing the users to gauge the performanceand efficiency of their HVAC systems.

Thermostats necessarily include both temperature sensors and controlcircuitry within their housings. Some user interfaces do not qualify asthermostats, because while they communicate with temperature sensors andcontrol circuitry, they do not include both within their housings.

SUMMARY

One aspect provides a user interface. In one embodiment, the userinterface includes: (1) a display configured to provide information to auser, (2) a touchpad configured to accept input from the user and (3) aprocessor and memory coupled to the display and the touchpad andconfigured to drive the display, the display further configured toprovide a button that allows a user to adjust an attribute of textdisplayed on the display.

Another aspect provides a method of configuring a display on a userinterface of an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1)providing information to a user with a display, (2) accepting input fromthe user with a touchpad and (3) allowing a user to adjust an attributeof text displayed on the display.

Yet another aspect provides an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the HVACsystem includes: (1) a heat pump or a compressor having at least onestage, (2) at least one condenser coil, (3) an expansion valve, (4) atleast one evaporator coil, (5) a loop of pipe interconnecting the heatpump or compressor, the at least one condenser coil, the expansion valveand the at least one evaporator coil and containing a refrigerant, (6)at least one fan configured to cause outdoor air and indoor air to blowover the at least one condenser coil and the least one evaporator coiland (7) a user interface, including: (7a) a display configured toprovide information to a user, (7b) a touchpad configured to acceptinput from the user and (7c) a processor and memory coupled to thedisplay and the touchpad and configured to drive the display, thedisplay further configured to provide a button that allows a user toadjust an attribute of text displayed on the display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a user interface;

FIG. 2 is a front-side elevational view of one embodiment of a userinterface;

FIG. 3 is a representation of one embodiment of a screen of the userinterface of FIG. 2 having one embodiment of adjustable fonts; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of configuring adisplay on a user interface of an HVAC system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a user interface 100. Theinterface has a display 110 and a touchpad 120. The display 110 isconfigured to provide information to a user, and the touchpad 120 isconfigured to accept input from a user. A processor and memory 130 arecoupled to the display 110 and the touchpad 120 to drive the display 110and process the input from the touchpad 120. More accurately, softwareor firmware is loaded into and stored in the memory and, when executedin the processor, configures the processor to drive the display 110 andprocess the input from the touchpad 120. An HVAC system interface 140 iscoupled to the processor and memory 130 and is configured to providecommunication between the processor and memory 130 and the remainder ofan HVAC system 150. In various embodiments, the HVAC system 150 includesone or more loops of pipe (one being shown and referenced as 151)containing a refrigerant. Each loop transports the refrigerant among aheat pump or a compressor 152 having at least one stage, at least onecondenser coil 153, an expansion valve 154 and at least one evaporatorcoil 155. One or more fans (“blowers”) 156 cause outdoor air and indoorair to blow over the at least one condenser coil 153 and the at leastone evaporator coil 155 to transfer heat to or from them. Those skilledin the pertinent art are familiar with conventional HVAC systems andgenerally understand the many embodiments and forms they may take.

FIG. 2 is a front-side elevational view of one embodiment of the userinterface of FIG. 1. The user interface 100 has a bezel 210. The display110 is configured to display at least one screen 220 of information forthe benefit of a user (the term also including an installer or any otherperson interested in gaining information from the user interface 100).

Although unreferenced, the screen 220 shown in FIG. 2 includes a currenttemperature display portion, a setpoint temperature display portion,buttons to raise or lower the setpoint temperature, a system modemessage display portion (i.e., “system is heating”) and a program statusmessage display portion (i.e., “program is on”). The screen 220 also hascurrent date and time display portions and allows the user to displayother screens (via a “press for more” message).

FIG. 3 is a representation of one embodiment of a screen of the userinterface of FIG. 2 having one embodiment of adjustable fonts. Accordingto the illustrated embodiment, a screen of the user interface canprovide one or more buttons 310 that allow a user to adjust the size orother attributes (e.g., emphasis, color or effects) of any text that isdisplayed on the user interface (e.g., those shown in a screen 320). Ingeneral, giving the user the ability to adjust the font size provides aneasy way for a user to improve the readability of text and informationdisplayed on his user interface. This capability will becomeincreasingly relevant for users as the number of features included inhigh-end communicating user interfaces increases. This feature shouldalso facilitate the proper use of user interfaces by users withdiminished visual capacity (e.g., nearsightedness, color blindness orother eye conditions).

In certain embodiments, users would have the ability to adjust font forsize and color, subject to a minimum and maximum allowed size (e.g.,from 8 point to 18 point type for Arial narrow font). In relatedembodiments, users access the settings through a display settingsscreen.

In certain embodiments, instead of explicitly selecting a font color orsize, users could select among the following modes optimized for aparticular circumstance or visual impairment:

“Optimized for color blindness;” black and white colors, avoidred-green, which is the most predominant form of color blindness.

“Optimized for distance;” largest available font size.

“Minimize glare;” LCD brightness, font color and size are adjusted forviewing under glare.

“Nighttime viewing;” font color and size are adjusted for viewing in lowlighting conditions. Display brightness may also be adjusted.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of configuring adisplay on a user interface of an HVAC system. The method begins in astart step 410. In a step 420, information is provided to a user with adisplay. In a step 430, input from the user is accepted with a touchpad.In a step 440, the display is caused to allow a user to adjust anattribute of text displayed on the display. The method ends in an endstep 450.

Those skilled in the art to which this application relates willappreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutionsand modifications may be made to the described embodiments.

1. A user interface for use with an HVAC system, comprising: a displayconfigured to provide information to a user; and a processor and memorycoupled to said display and configured to drive said display, saiddisplay further configured to provide a button that allows a user toadjust an attribute of text displayed on said display.
 2. The userinterface as recited in claim 1 wherein said attribute is selected fromthe group consisting of: text emphasis, text color, and text effects. 3.The user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein said attribute is textsize and said button allows said user to adjust said text size subjectto a minimum and maximum allowed size.
 4. The user interface as recitedin claim 1 wherein said button allows said user to select a mode that isoptimized for color-blindness.
 5. The user interface as recited in claim1 wherein said button allows said user to select a mode that isoptimized for distance.
 6. The user interface as recited in claim 1wherein said button allows said user to select a mode that is optimizedto minimize glare.
 7. The user interface as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid button allows said user to select a mode that is optimized fornighttime viewing.
 8. A method of configuring a display on a userinterface of an HVAC system, comprising: providing information to a userwith a display; accepting input from said user; and allowing a user toadjust an attribute of text displayed on said display.
 9. The method asrecited in claim 8 wherein said attribute is selected from the groupconsisting of: text emphasis, text color, and text effects.
 10. Themethod as recited in claim 8 wherein said attribute is text size andsaid button allows said user to adjust said text size subject to aminimum and maximum allowed size.
 11. The method as recited in claim 8wherein said button allows said user to select a mode that is optimizedfor color-blindness.
 12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein saidbutton allows said user to select a mode that is optimized for distance.13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said button allows saiduser to select a mode that is optimized to minimize glare.
 14. Themethod as recited in claim 8 wherein said button allows said user toselect a mode that is optimized for nighttime viewing.
 15. An HVACsystem, comprising: a heat pump or a compressor having at least onestage; at least one condenser coil; an expansion valve; at least oneevaporator coil; a loop of pipe interconnecting said heat pump orcompressor, said at least one condenser coil, said expansion valve andsaid at least one evaporator coil and containing a refrigerant; at leastone fan configured to cause outdoor air and indoor air to blow over saidat least one condenser coil and said least one evaporator coil; and auser interface, including: a display configured to provide informationto a user, a touchpad configured to accept input from said user, and aprocessor and memory coupled to said display and said touchpad andconfigured to drive said display, said display further configured toprovide a button that allows a user to adjust an attribute of textdisplayed on said display.
 16. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15wherein said attribute is selected from the group consisting of: textemphasis, text color, and text effects.
 17. The HVAC system as recitedin claim 15 wherein said attribute is text size and said button allowssaid user to adjust said text size subject to a minimum and maximumallowed size.
 18. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein saidbutton allows said user to select a mode that is optimized forcolor-blindness.
 19. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein saidbutton allows said user to select a mode that is optimized for distance.20. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said button allowssaid user to select a mode that is optimized to minimize glare.
 21. TheHVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said button allows said userto select a mode that is optimized for nighttime viewing.